Austin City Council gives initial nod to controversial mixed-use development "Austin-based Endeavor Real Estate Group plans to redevelop the 21-acre Borden Dairy tract at the busy intersection of East Cesar Chavez Street and U.S. 183 with 1,400 condominium and apartment units; 411,500 square feet of office space; 106,000 square feet of retail space; and a 220-room hotel." (Shonda Novak, Austin American-Statesman)
Austin settles airport legal battles for $88 million, will take control of South Terminal "An $88 million payment to the management group of the South Terminal at the Austin Bergstrom International Airport will settle two lawsuits with the company and allow the city to assume control of operations at the facility." (David Dishman, Austin American-Statesman)
NRP Group to build affordable housing near airport "About 650 apartments are coming to Austin’s outskirts, near Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. They will rise off Ross Road on two lots totaling about 25 acres, according to two separate site plans filed with the city of Austin." (Cody Baird, Austin Business Journal)
Project Connect light rail plan gets stamp of approval from Austin City Council "The Austin City Council gave a stamp of approval to the Project Connect implementation plan that was unveiled last week. The $7.1 billion project will include 9.8 miles of new light rail line stretching from 38th Street through downtown and southeast partway toward the Austin airport."
Texas House passes property tax bill, adjourns 1 day into special session "Less than one day after Gov. Greg Abbott called lawmakers to the Capitol for a special legislative session, the Texas House has adjourned. Abbott directed lawmakers to pass legislation aimed at cutting property taxes and increasing criminal penalties for human smuggling. ... After passing three bills, the House adjourned 'sine die,' which means it cannot meet again for the rest of the special session." (Hannah Norton, Community Impact)
New mural honors Austin's first elected Latino mayor Gus Garcia "The legacy of Austin's first elected Latino mayor, Gustavo 'Gus' Garcia, is now enshrined in a large-scale public mural in Northeast Austin. The mural, created by artist Lindsey Millikan in partnership with Austin's Art in Public Places Program, sprawls across an entire exterior wall at the recreation center that bears Garcia's name." (Krissi Micklethwait, KUT 90.5)
1,200 housing units planned near Lakeline, pending zoning change "The Planning Commission on May 23 recommended allowing up to 1,200 housing units on the last 30 acres of undeveloped land in the 446-acre Leander Rehabilitation planned unit development, instead of office and commercial space as had previously been planned." (Jonathan Lee, Austin Monitor)
